In this modern day and age, we
see Christmas become more and more commercialized - simply a time to have more business
and profit from all the merry-making. It just isn't true that one has to splurge
during this season. In fact, the simpler the celebration, the more meaningful it is
since it draws one closer to the first Christmas. Remember that lowly stable with
the shepherds and the angels and the holy family? What made that night different
from all other nights is not the fancy lights, expensive gifts and grand decor but that
our Lord Jesus Christ came to us to be our Saviour and Lord! Let us keep Christ at
the center of our Christmas!

Instead of buying Christmas
lights, just buy bulbs to replace the worn out ones. To test bulbs easily, get a 12
volt battery and let the bulb's wire touch the positive and negative nodes - but let it
only touch momentarily lest it be overloaded.

Have the kids do something
creative like candleholders or tree decor for Christmas with uncooked "lasagna,
rigatoni, and/or ziti" noodles, cardboard tubings, glue, lids, craft sticks, crayons,
various types and colors of paper, markers, paint, food colorings, brushes, and other
collage materials and tools - be sure to have Christmas background music for inspiration.

Parties need a lot of
preparation and time. Make this chore one you can share with your kids. They
will enjoy Christmas more if they are able to help out with something they can do.
Have them bake some cookies - a snowman cookie contest is one way to keep them occupied -
have a judging afterward for the most creative snowman, weirdest, cutest, etc.

Make Christmas puzzles with
pictures cut up - use fancy scissors with unusual blades like waves.

Make your very own snow globe
using baby food jars. You can glue a little plastic figurine, flower or house on the
inside of the jar's lid. Add glitter, bits of foil or small beads inside the jar.
Add equal parts water and corn syrup - and you can color the water with food
coloring if you want. Seal the lid inside and outside with a watertight sealant (the
kind you use for aquariums). Leave overnight to dry.

Another baby food jar recycling
tip is to use it as your gift wrap - you can put in your small gift inside and just wrap
the jar with cellophane or a piece of ribbon.

Let the kids have a Christmas
decor spotting game in the car - useful during traffic! Let them judge at the end of
the ride which house/building/shop had the best ever.

To make a simple centerpiece,
get a piece of hard green paper - cut 2 pcs. into identical Christmas tree shapes.
Cut one piece from the top to the middle and the other from the bottom of the tree to the
middle. You can now slide their middle portions to make a 3D tree!

Recycle old film cannisters as
Christmas decor! You can either glue gun some colorful cloth, beads, gold wrapper or
alumninum foil all over its rim and put candies, nuts, bath beads, jewelry or money
inside. This can be a game for the kids. Have them pick one cannister each and
see what they got inside.

Don't throw out your Christmas
wrapper. The huge ones are re-usable and the small ones you can cut out to make gift
tags and card projects from.

Don't know what to give that
person who has absolutely everything? Give a gift that will last and make a
difference! Give a card that says "In your behalf, I have sent a contribution
to..." This won't do for kids though.

For a party activity, hang a
piece of cloth or paper in the shape of a Christmas tree on one wall. Have paints or
crayons on hand for guests to "decorate" your tree. They can also sign a
message near their ornament.

If you want a larger tree but
can't afford one, put your tree atop a small stable table and cover the bottom part with
bright festive cloth. You can also place a collection of lighted houses here or just
pile the gifts atop each other.

A tree decor which is
practically free is emptied out egg shells. You may dye them different colors using
food coloring (add vinegar to the warm colored water for the color to stick). And
you can make different drawings to spice them up and lend some character.

For a newly married couple,
here's a nice idea - have a Christmas party and have each guest bring Christmas ornament
for your tree as a housewarming gift.

An ingenious and unique
candleholder idea - use red and green apples! Cut out a small portion of the core
and place the candle in!

To make entertaining less
expensive, serve chicken or pasta instead of shrimp, pork and beef. Garnish
everything to make it more attractive and appetizing.